Olujuwon Oshonaike, father of Nigeria’s ace female table tennis player, Funke, says he has no regret with his daughter’s involvement in the ping-pong game.
The father of the 2016 winner of the ITTF Africa Senior Championships said on Monday that his daughter had through the sport brought the family to limelight.
“Funke has showcased the name of the family to the world. I am blessed to have such a daughter.
“When the then Lagos State Table Tennis Coach, nicknamed “Malawi’’ came to me that I should allow her to engage in the sport, I told him with all pleasure that he can train her.
“I love sports, so when the request came, I didn’t hesitate.
“The Principal of her school then (Igbobi Girls High School) asked me if she would be able to combine education with sport. I said she would,’’ he said.
The father of the ping-pong star also advised parents not to discourage their children from engaging actively in any sport of their choice.
“Parents should not stop their children from engaging in sports, they never can tell if it will be that child that will bring out the glory of their family.
“They need to give such child the needed support, give advice on how to combine both education and sports.
“I never regretted allowing Funke to engage in sports, you cannot imagine where she has taken my name to all over the world,’’ he said.
Oshonaike added that his wife and neighbours were not in support but he bluntly told them that was what he wanted for his daughter.
“My wife didn’t want Funke to go into sports then, even our neighbours at Somolu were asking; how can I allow her to participate in sports?
“But I told them bluntly that I want her in sports.
“And it has paid off today, I thank God for the talent given to her and the wisdom given to me not to shatter her dreams,’’ he said.
Oshonaike, who was discovered playing table tennis on the street, started representing Nigeria when she was 12 years old.
She won a silver medal in the women’s singles event at the 2011 Africa Games, bronze at the 2007 Algiers Africa Games, a bronze medal at the 2015 Maputo Africa Games.
Born on October 28, 1975, she competed for Nigeria at the London 2012 Summer Olympic Games in London and at the Rio de Janeiro 2016 Olympics in Brazil.
In the preliminary round, she defeated Mariana Sahakian of Lebanon and was beaten by and in round 1, she was defeated by Adriana Diaz of Puerto Rico.
She was the flagbearer for Nigeria during the Parade of Nations.
